Journals from BMJ Press Release:
Embargo 23:30 hours UK time on Thursday 5 November 2015
Please click on links for full articles and remember to credit BMJ Case Reports - this assures your audience it is from
a reputable source.
Doctors warn of accidental overdosing on herbal medicines
In BMJ Case Reports this week, doctors warn of the dangers posed by herbal remedies after a trained herbalist
accidentally overdosed on the "deadly nightshade" herbal medicine.
Atropa belladonna, also known as the deadly nightshade, is a poisonous plant that can be purchased legally. In herbal
medicine, it is used to treat 'nervous pain' and muscle spasm, and to reduce secretions.
The 50-year-old patient drank a small amount of 50mL from the bottle to help her insomnia one evening. However,
this was equivalent to a very large dose of 15mg of atropine - a naturally occurring poison found in A. belladonna which produced almost fatal effects.
The patient was admitted to the emergency department with acute anticholinergic syndrome - symptoms included
confusion, flushes, a fast heart rate, and hypersensitivity. Due to severe agitation, she was sedated, and consequently
admitted to intensive care overnight. She made a full recovery by the following morning.
The doctors who treated her write this episode provides an "important insight into potentially dangerous products
available legally within the UK." They explain there is no mandatory training or registration for individuals practicing
as a herbal practitioners, and minimal legal safeguards or specifications relating to the herbal remedy industry.
Article: Accidental overdose in the deep shade of night: a warning on the assumed safety of ‘natural substances’
Journal: BMJ Case Reports
Embargo link: http://press.psprings.co.uk/BCR/november/209333.pdf
Public link after embargo lifts: http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2015/bcr-2015-209333